Save the Internet! Support Network Neutrality.

A break from our regularly scheduled programming -

The Internet has thrived in a competitive market with thousands of ISPs. The Internet has been an open network where the Internet network service has no control over what applications you use or what content you view.

Well that has all changed. Now there are basically two broadband ISPs - the cable and the DSL providers (what looks like other DSL providers are just companies reselling the Bell Telephone company DSL - and they will be going out of business soon). This broadband providers no longer exist in a competitive market. They have market power and they are going to use it.

They have said that Google should no longer get a free ride on the Internet. Well Google never got a free ride. But AT&T's solution is blackmail. Either Google pays up - or YOU will not get access to google. This Broadband Internet service providers will be able to control what you see and what applications you use. If you want to order pizza at ACME Pizza, they will take you instead to their paying parter BETA Pizza - who is giving them a kick back. Small websites - the websites of hockey clubs and ice rinks - will get lost in the cross fires of the fights between your DSL provider and Google, Yahoo or MS - and your club members will no longer be able to access your websites unless you pay "protection" to the broadband Internet service providers.

We need network neutrality. We need common carriage. We need - just like the telephone network - just like the roads - just like the trains - carriers who cannot discriminate about who uses the network, what content you see over the network, and what applications you use.

Support Network Neutrality! Support the Save the Internet campaign. ACT NOW!

2005-06 Tier II Club Performance - a score card of sorts

How did the clubs do this year.  Using back of the envelope math - and just looking at Tier II Boys teams, what if we treat it like a track meet.  Give 5 points for first place in a division (ie., first place in Bantam B), 4 points for second place, 3 points for third place, 2 points for fourth place, and finally 1 point for fifth place.  Now add up all of the points that a team earned in the last year - based on season results posted at CBHL (not based on year end tourney), and you get something like the chart to the right.  Pretty impressive! 

Club / Team	Total Points
Ashburn	35
Prince William	18
Richmond	18
Chesapeake	16
Tri City	15
Howard	13
Greater Hampton	12
Frederick	9
Reston	9
Virginia	7
Baltimore	7
NoVA	6
Montgomery	5
Blue Ridge	5
Navy	4
Bowie	3
Chevy Chase	3
Easton	3
Hagerstown	2
Fredericksburg	2
Metro	0

Ashburn Ice House Ice Rink Back online

Ashburn Ice House's second rink is back online. You might still check directly with the ice house about schedules, as they may have to juggle for a few make ups.

WLC and Extreme MOU

Well if not a partnership with the Statesmen, how about a partnership with Ashburn Extreme?? Both Extreme and WLC are announcing a new MOU. The WLC states:

Keeping lines of communication open between the clubs and pledging to work together, rather than against each other, will ultimately enhance the travel hockey experience in the area.

The Extreme states

The Xtreme become the first Virginia based organization to partner with the WLC's.

Any Virginia club is invited to sign the MOU. The MOU states

The tier II organization will agree to support the WLC program in the following ways:

a) Inform its players of the tryout schedule.

b) Be positive in promoting the Washington Little Capitals.

c) Be involved in the tier I Washington Little Capitals operation.

What does the tier II organization get in return:

The Washington Little Capitals will provide the following in return for the organization’s support:

a) WLC will not recruit players either actively or passively.

b) WLC will provide tier II club patches to be worn on the WLC jerseys.

c) Each participating Tier II organization’s president or hockey director will have a seat on the WLC Board of Advisors.

d) WLC will provide evaluators for Tier II team tryouts (another unaffiliated voice of reason during the tryout exercise) if requested.

e) WLC will be involved in the affairs of the tier II league if requested by the CBHL.

One rumor places the timing of the WLC / Ashburn MOU at just about the same time negotiations broke down between WLC and Statemen. Extreme has the reputation of wanting a Tier 1 program for some time (and has an excellent Tier II program).

WLC and Statemen to Merge? WLC Says NO!!

Wow, the swirl of club realignment just seems to continue. The WLC has posted a long statement addressing Tier I reallignment in the CBHL area - recounting the history of the formation of Team Maryland and the disbandment of the MYHA Tier I program - whether WLC had anything to do with that - and merger negotiations between WLC and Statemen where WLC points fingers at Statesmen.

Among the points made
* WLC is on for the 2006-07 season at Ballston but will only offer 3 teams
* There are too many tier 1 teams, and this has hurt AA teams
* Clubs agreed to disband Tier I squirt programs (and everyone did but Statemen)
* Clubs agreed to together to eliminate club hopping (oh goody, so the kids get stuck in programs that are faultering???)
* Support Team Marylands AYHL bid
* WLC is a AYHL member
* MYHA, Team Maryland, and Statemen all applied for AYHL membership
* MYHA and Team Maryland were told to talk amongst themselves - they did and came back with support for Team Maryland
* WLC and Statemen did talk Mergers but WLC blames Statemen for botching what was almost a done deal

There is no statement on the Statemen website. The Statemen will apparently have 5 Tier 1 teams.

Elite Hockey Training Center Clinic at CJ May 12-14

Elite Hockey Training Center returns to Cabin John Ice Rink Maryland for a weekend clinic May 12-14. The information reflects that there will be a specialized goalie coach on hand.

Let us know about your local camps and clinics!

Try Out Schedule - Revised - only a few slackers left

Tier II

Still Not Posted Yet (what's with you slackers??):
Chevy Chase (nothing on their website)
Nelson Hockey (probably in May)
Hagerstown Bulldogs

Dates Posted (starting dates)
Apr 19-28 Bowie Bruins
April 22-23 NOVA Ice Dogs
April 23 Greater Hampton
April 28-30 Prince William Panthers
May 2 Fredricksburg Falcons
May 6, 7, 10 Baltimore
May 7 Montgomery Blue Devils (every team but Squirt A/B and mites)
May 8 Richmond Royals
May 8 Navy
May 15 Frederick Fury
May 15 TriCity Eagles
May 17 Cheasapeake Chief
May 17 Howard Huskies
June 12- 18 Reston Raiders
June 12 and 21 Ashburn Extreme
June 22 thru June 27 Virginia Wild
Late August Easton
Late August Montgomery Blue Devils Squirt A/B and Mites


Girls Program
April 17 MYHA (a great program)

Tier I tryouts were in April last year

WLC May 12
Team Maryland April 17
Statesmen April 17

Juniors
Washington Junior Nationals Junior Caps Apr. 28 - May 1 Washington Junior Nationals Website

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Cybertelecom :: Federal Internet Law & Policy www.cybertelecom.org

Sean Mariano Garcia of the Latin American Working Group will talk on "The Church's Challenge by U.S. Immigration Policy Reform" at NYAPC Fri. Apr. 28 Wash DC 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm www.nyapc.org

MYHA Girls Tryouts Announced

Montgomery Youth Hockey has announced tryouts for their girls ice hockey program. Try outs began yesterday, April 17. MYHA has one of the best girls programs in the area and a great head coach in Christian Yngve.

Ashburn Ice House - One Rink Offline

Please note that one rink at Ashburn Ice House is offline - I heard that it may be back online by the end of the week. This will impact things like Stick and Shoot at Ashburn. You should consult the AIH website or call them to ensure that events are still taking place.

VA Statemen Announce Try Outs - and THERE WILL BE a Squirt Tier 1 Team in Washington

VA Statemen have come around to announcing their try outs too.  Try outs are less then a week away.  And they WILL have a Squirt Tier 1 team!  This announcement does not say where try outs are; I would assume that they are at Reston Skatequest.

Team	Team Head Coach	Date	Time
Squirt Major (1996 birth year)	Tim Graham	Mon April 17 Wed April 19 Tues April 25 Thur April 27	5:40 to 7:00 PM 6:10 to 7:30 PM 5:10 to 6:30 PM 5:45 to 7:00 PM
Peewee Minor (1995 birth year)	Andrew Hawthorne	Tues April 18 Thur April 20 Mon April 24 Wed April 26	5:10 to 6:30 PM 5:45 to 7:00 PM 5:40 to 7:00 PM 6:10 to 7:30 PM
Peewee Major     Quebec Team (1994 birth year)	Josh Kern	Mon April 17 Wed April 19 Tues April 25 Thur April 27	7:10 to 8:30 PM 7:40 to 9:00 PM 6:15 to 7:30 PM 7:15 to 8:30 PM
Bantam Minor      (1993 birth year)	Dennis Rumsey	Tues April 18 Thur April 20 Mon April 24 Wed April 26	6:15 to 7:30 PM 7:15 to 8:30 PM 7:10 to 8:30 PM 7:40 to 9:00 PM
Bantam Major (1992 birth year)	Paul Veillette	Tues April 18 Thur April 20 Tues April 25 Thur April 27	7:45 to 9:00 PM 8:45 to 10:00 PM 7:45 to 9:00 PM 8:45 to 10:00 PM

WLC ReAnnounce Try Outs

WLC have reannounced try outs.  Tryouts will be in May at Ashburn Ice House.  This will be for Pee Wee, Bantam, and U16.  There will not be a Squirt Tier 1 team.  As reported earlier, the WLC home ice will be Ballston, which is due online in August (which is why try outs are not at Ballston). 

So looks like Northern Virginia will be hosting 2 Tier 1 teams:  Washington Little Caps and the Statesmen.

WLC Tryout Schedule

ALL TRYOUT SESSIONS WILL BE AT THE ASHBURN ICE HOUSE 

1994s & 1995s: Pee Wee

Friday............................. May 12....................... 6:15-7:30pm
Saturday......................... May 13....................... 2:15-3:30pm
Sunday........................... May 14..................... 9:45-11:00am

1992s & 1993s:  Bantam

Thursday........................ May 11....................... 6:15-7:30pm

Saturday......................... May 13.................... 8:45-10:00pm

Sunday........................... May 14............. 11:15am-12:30pm

1991s and 1990s:  U16s

Monday........................... May 1.................... 6:45 to 8:15 PM

Tuesday......................... May 2................. 9:00 to 10:30 PM

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Cybertelecom :: Federal Internet Law & Policy www.cybertelecom.org

Washington Youth Hockey News arlhoc.blogspot.com

Ashburn Extreme Announced Try Out Dates and Coaching Line Up

"The Ashburn Xtreme Hockey Club has announced its coaching line-up and tryout dates for the 2006-2007 season.

"The AXHC enjoyed a remarkable 2005-06 season with six teams winning CBHL regular season or playoff championships. The 1994's and 1995's won both! The club also sent four teams to the Southeastern District Championships and the U16 AA's to USA Hockey Nationals. The coaching staff is excited to get started and have agreed to coach the Power Play Selectteams at the same birth year this spring. "

Virginia Wild!

From the rumor mill - last year's expansion team, the Virginia Wild, with home ice at Ashburn Ice House was a strong success. They took 4th Place in the Squirt B Season, fifth place in the Peewee B season, and Second place in the Bantam B season. Rumor has it, they will be back - but they are the step child out at Ashburn - with practice times early on the weekend mornings - generally not having practices during the week. They have yet to post try out information for the coming year. It also continues to beg the question of who is going to grab that open ice at Ballston.